Exactly how do you print on 110lb card on the HP OfficeJet Pro 6978?

[RYoder97]

Hello. I'm trying to print some 3.5x2 inch cards to hand out. Not necessarily business cards considering they aren't as thick but you get the idea.

My file is set 10 up, with a sixteenth of an inch bleed at the top and bottom of the cards and an eighth of an inch on each side.

My top and bottom margins are 0.25 inches, which according to this page is within the required minimum margin settings for printing on letter sized paper.

I am unsure how to tell the printer to print on 110lb cardstock though. The only options on the printer are vague terms like "plain paper" and "plain paper, thick", and "speciality matte paper" and such. I am used to print settings that are much more clear than this like on the HP PageWide printers.

I try printing my file on cardstock using "plain paper, thick" and the cards DO NOT have their margin at the top. They're being printed on the edge of the paper at the top basically. My top margin is being ignored entirely.

Could someone please instruct me how to properly print on cardstock with this machine? Thank you!

[Dragon-Fur]

@RYoder97

The following MIGHT be helpful in context - I don't have your printer.  Everything that follows is based on research, personal experience (with my printers / software / setup), and guess-work.

Try the following (or some combination)

Open the document in the software you are using to create the labels / card content

Invoke the Print action (for example:  File > Print)

Open the printer dialog - might be called "Properties", "Preferences" or similar

In the main menu (likely "Printing Shortcuts")

Select Borderless = OFF

Paper Type=  HP Matte Brochure or Professional Paper

Print on Both Sides = OFF

Pages per sheet = 1

Print Quality = Normal

Next - Adjust / Verify / (re)set the settings in the other "tabs" in the Menu

Properties (print dialog) >

Tab Paper / Quality > Paper Sizes

Look for and Select "Index card Letter 8.5x11in."

Paper Source

Select Main Tray (as opposed to leaving "automatic" or similar)

Paper Type

If the "cards" are similar to the weight of typical business cards, Select HP Matte Brochure or Professional Paper

If the "cards" are lighter weight, Select HP Presentation Paper

Note that selecting the heavier paper is less likely to cause problems than selecting a paper that is "too light".

If supported for your printer / software, you can create a custom shortcut with your special settings (Save-As).

Here's where it can get weird.

The margins depend on the software used to open the document and submit that job to the printer.

For example, if you are using Word or Avery software, the margins can be set (in the case of Word) or are automatically handled (in the case of the Avery software). 

Printing from PDF can be tricky if the margins are not already "set" because that format is actually derived from a different document creation software (like Word) - PDF seems to "seal the margins" in place at about an inch (perhaps 1/2 inch).  Using the Avery Software and Then exporting to PDF works because the internal settings appear to be "passed along" from the Avery document format to the PDF export.  ??  (No emails, please, I know this explanation is likely inaccurate.)

The following Dragon document is Windows-centric (meaning the examples and details are extracted from a Windows environment).  The general information may be useful to help you extrapolate what you need based on your particular situation.

Dragon Document – Collection of Help, suggestions, and examples:

Printing Labels_Business-Cards_Cards

Print Labels, Business Cards, Cards, Booklet

Topics / Subjects, various, including:

• Preparation
• Labels, Cards, and Business Cards
  • Office Word
  • HP Photo Creations and Avery Templates
  • Avery Design and Print (through Windows 10) and Mac
    • Print from PDF feature
  • Avery Wizard for Word (through Windows 😎
• Printing and Printing Preferences – Notes
• Print Booklet
  • Foxit Reader - Booklet
  • Adobe Reader - Booklet
• Additional Help (Documents and Notes)

Edits:  Added HomePage information for printer

Reference and Resources – Places to find help and information for your Printer

Printer Homepage – “Things that are your printer”

Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, Videos, Bulletins/Notices, How-to, Troubleshooting, User Guides, Product Information, more

HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 All-in-One Printer

Thank you for participating in the HP Community Forum.

We are a world community of HP enthusiasts dedicated to supporting HP technology.

[RYoder97]

Thanks for the helpful answer, Dragon-Fur. I'd say I'm a step closer to accomplishing what I am looking to do, but I'm not out of the water yet.

I have HP Instant ink so I was more than happy to play around with the print settings and try selecting all of the paper options.

The only paper types I can select from the "Paper Type" dropdown that will give me the correct margins I am looking for are Matte and Glossy Photo paper, but if I try printing with that paper setting, the print is very washed out (pure black becomes a faded gray). So color accuracy isn't there...

I am unsure if you are just an HP expert or an employee, but is there a "by the book" HP guide on how to print properly with this printer? Lol. I can try calling tomorrow at work during my break but I figure I'd check on the forums as well since it isn't a dire issue.

If there is any way to fix the discoloration with the prints using a "photo paper" setting, then my problem will be fully solved.

Thanks for the step in the right direction though!

[Dragon-Fur]

@RYoder97

I am not an HP employee.  I am "people" like you - our Experts are owners and users of HP technology.

HP people are marked with orange HP icons next to their avatars (user IDs).

By the Book

Reference and Resources – Places to find help and information for your Printer

Printer Homepage – “Things that are your printer”

Drivers / Software / Firmware Updates, Videos, Bulletins/Notices, How-to, Troubleshooting, User Guides, Product Information, more

HP OfficeJet Pro 6978 All-in-One Printer

How to > Topic Print > Subject List Instructions & Settings

Subjects Include (and are not limited to):

•  How to Print on Both Sides of the Paper (Windows) (Duplexing)
•  Printing Documents (Windows)
• Changing Font Size in Printed Documents or Web Pages
•  Creating Custom Paper Sizes

User Guide

In general, Photo paper is treated differently by the printer because the surface of photo paper is different than the surface of regular paper, card paper, brochure paper, and the like.  Color application, the amount of ink used, and drying times are likely changed / adjusted for photo paper.  Printers might throw a paper mismatch error when you select Media type photo paper and the printer is not actually loaded with that Media type.

Choosing Photo Paper as the Media when the paper is not Photo Paper might produce unexpected results:

The printer can either sense that you are not actually using photo paper (and so behaves as it likes) OR the printer is perhaps oblivious to the paper mis-match, believes what you are "saying", and uses different ink and drying settings for photo paper. 

The "coloration" issue might be due to the settings OR the printer might be in need of calibration or other adjustments.

• Black or Color Ink Not Printing, Other Print Quality Issues

You can adjust the contrast, hue, and color depth before printing.  In general, this ability depends a great deal on which software you are using to view / create the content and submit that content to the printer.  Photo Editing software usually provides a modicum of "pre" print editing. 

• How to Print Photos (Windows)

Thank you for participating in the HP Community Forum.

We are a world community of HP enthusiasts dedicated to supporting HP technology.